NEWARK - Despite carrying two doses of Narcan, Newark police officers are usually only able to buy paramedics more time to arrive to save the life of an overdosed drug user.

"The two doses of Narcan is never enough," Newark Police Officer Derrick Beach said.

It's a reality first responders face as the opioid crisis reaches new heights in Licking County.

In 2017, the number of overdose deaths more than doubled from 17 in 2016 to 35. And of those 35 deaths in 2017, 14 were directly tied to Fentanyl and another nine were tied to other opiates, including heroin and Oxycodone.

This week, across the state, mental health agencies are looking to thank first responders for their efforts on the front liens of this epidemic.

"There are a group of people who work tirelessly day in and day out to save the lives of those struggling with addiction – EMS and fire, law enforcement, emergency department and hospital staffs, treatment providers, families and friends, and many others," she said in a statement. "The April 9- 13 Week of Appreciation recognizes the tremendous work of our first responders and others and thanks them for not only bringing help, but also bringing hope to the lives of many impacted by addiction in our community."

The effort is being made because much of the time, first responders are doing a thankless job when they arrive on the scene of an overdose.

Newark Police Sgt. Brian Webster, who works with Beach in handling the Newark Addiction Recovery Initiative program, said addicts are sometimes eager to get help, but on their own timeline. The NARI program allows addicts to come to the police department and get set up with assistance in overcoming that addiction.

"We had someone in that said they were ready for help," he said. "We got them appointments set up but they said it was too long to wait and if they overdosed and died, it was on our hands."

Beach said when someone is revived from an overdose, they can often be upset as well because their high has been taken away.

While watching someone come back from the brink of death may seem traumatic, Beach said officers don't have much time to process what they've witnessed, or the miracle they may have themselves performed.

"We take nearly 40,000 calls for service a year," he said. "You don't have a lot of time to sit and ponder that one event. They run together."

Webster, who has been an officer for more than three decades, said when he first started out, police were called to assist medics and may not have realized they were responding to an overdose. Now, police are often the first emergency personnel on scene.

"Back then, you'd clear it and move on to the next call," he said. "A lot of times we'd show up and they were already loading someone into the squad."

But in the last 10 to 15 years, as the use of opiates has skyrocketed, officers are asked to wear more hats.

"We've had to transition into being not only police, but medical professionals in a way," Beach said. "We have to determine if a person is overdosing, having a medical emergency. You're also dealing with family and friends, trying to calm them down."

It is difficult for officers to see people overdose, sometimes on multiple occasions, and know help is available if they are ready for it.

"A lot of people think they're ready for help, but it's hard," Webster said. "We all think we can say the one thing that will flip that switch. We can want them to get better, but when it comes to the work, they have to do it."